Soap Bag

I love this little soap bag and can't wait to get more of them knitted for gifts. The variegated yarn makes the linen stitch look like smocking. This nifty little pattern can be found here.

Back to Dishcloths

I got DW dishcloth fever just looking at another knitter/blogger's cloths and had to make several of these using S & C yarn called Midnight Magic. The yarn is a little darker than it looks in the picture. The flash lit the colors up beautifully though. You can find the DW pattern here.

The Young Knitter, Headband Pattern

What do young knitters do before breakfast? My granddaughter happily knitting a another headband (pattern below) with Sugar n Cream yarn called Summer Splash. I think she has knitting fever; she says this kind of fever is fun. :))

T's Headband Pattern

Materials: Size 7 needles

Very small ball worsted weight cotton yarn such as Peaches & Creme will make several headbands.

Cast on 8 stitches (or more for a wider band)

Row 1 and all rows: Knit
Keep knitting until the headband fits around your head snugly.
Bind off the stitches and sew together with a darning needle.

History Lessons They Don't Forget

When our youngest was in high school (homeschool) we decided to combine a couple of her classes like American History and Home Economics.  If you're wondering what those two have in common I have to tell you not much, that is until we got involved at an area historical museum site, The John Sevier Farm Home.  (farm home of Tennessee's first governor)  At the time the site had monthly guild meetings where we learned of its history, and among other things, how to make our own clothing (including shoes), what food was appropriate to the 18th century, and accessories we would need to be involved in presenting history correctly at events held there.

Our Guild leader preparing to teach soapmaking.

A couple of our friends ready to teach history lessons to public school children.

Our daughter learned to sew (home economics) by making her own 18th century era clothing.  Here she is wearing a shortgown, chemise and two petticoats (that's 18th century lingo for jacket, blouse/slip and skirts.)

Our youngest with a musket - yes, she learned to shoot a musket, too.

 After she had learned "the ropes" our daughter was asked to string up a literal rope and demonstrate how women and girls did their laundry during this time period. Here she is talking to a group of public school children who had no idea clothes could be washed without a washing machine.

Demonstrating how laundry was washed in the 18th century.  

Here's a picture of  my "frontier family" and myself.   We were in Oliver Springs for their Memorial Day festivities in the picture below. The photo was taken while we visited with friends in their Cherokee lean-to. That day my husband fired his musket, I cooked beans and rice, hoe cakes and mint tea for lunch over an open fire.  Our daughter paraded around in her 18th century finery fanning herself with the turkey feather fan you can see in her hand.  Some folks get the easy jobs....I just wasn't one of them that day.

All the clothing in the photos, including my husband's were made by our daughter or myself.  So, that's how we combined early American History and the sewing lessons for her Home Economics class.  If you're interested in history and would like to be part of it's retelling at a local historic site just call them up and find out how you and your children can become involved.  It's great fun, and you might even get paid for doing demonstrations during school tours, as we did. ;)
Edited to add:  This was not all of the history learned that year or all of the sewing, cooking, etc. learned by our daughter, but it sure was a lot of fun for her, and fun in learning goes miles and miles toward attitude and retention of details such as dates, who did what, etc.

The Great Smoky Mountains

I hope you will be able to see these photos well. They were taken on a drive through the park. We were on our way to a campmeeting in North Carolina... Riding with the clouds....

A view from high atop Clingman's Dome. Oh boy, that's a walk! Prepare to take a few rests along the way. Sadly, some of the trees are showing damage from smog...

April KAL

Amid promises from the local weather station of seasonal weather for the rest of the week, it's 32 degrees F here in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.

My April KAL is finally blocked and photograped. Nice pattern and very appropriate for this month. The pattern is three crosses.

Thanks to the folks at Monthly Dishcloths KAL for another fun project. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MonthlyDishcloths/

Tasty Fajitas

This fajita dish will be a hit at the dinner table, I promise. Here's your ticket to an authentic Mexican dish that is fast and easy and loaded with flavor:

Partially thaw 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast meat. Cut into 3 inch X 1/4 inch strips, and set aside to thaw completely. Rinse well and pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon each: seasoned salt, garlic powder, chili powder, and ground cumin; set aside.

On freshly de-germed cutting board slice a red and a green bell pepper and 1 medium onion into strips. Set aside.

Stir fry chicken strips in med-hot oil till nearly done; add peppers and continue cooking until the peppers just begin to wilt, not mushy, please.

Serve with fried rice and/or beans. Olay, as we say in the South...snicker.